Hampi, Vijaynagar Empire, The Rise and Fall - Vol II

1509 to 1530 A.D - The Reign Of Krishnadevaraya :
Aptly termed 'the golden age of the vijaynagar empire', the regime of Krishnadevaraya took vijaynagar to the pinnacle of its glory. His victorious campaigns over the southern states of the present mysore, tamilnadu and kerala were a proof of his abilities. His kingdom extended from kanyakumari till orissa. So powerful was he, that when he won over kalinga, the king of orissa offered his daughter in marriage to the king. His vicotorious campaigns troubled the Bahamani kings as he marched towards Raichur. After the fall of raichur, the Bahamani kingdom was reduced to the states of Bidar, Gulbarga and Bijapur.
Krishnadevaraya was a connoisseur of art and literature. Bieng a poet himself, he had composed several works which were eventually lost in Hampi. His palace had eight renowned poets like Allasani Peddanna and Tenali Ramakrishna who were held in high esteem by the king. Beautiful temples were consturcted. Importance was given for all forms of art. In fact in the ruins we can still see some persian styles and Jain architectures employed in the construction of some of the temples and palaces. A very benevolent ruler but at the same time highly ruthless to his enemies. The reason for the animosity between him and the Bahamani sultans is not yet known. Such was his hatred that when the Sultans requested him to restore Raichur and restore peace, he is supposed to have said 'Let the Sultan come and lick my feet, if his territories have to be restored'. It was this hatred that led to the downfall of the great empire.
History has shown that hatred leads to hatred and war leads to another war. Nothing won out of violence and war is sustainable. The great city of Hampi is a standing example. The hatred between the Bahamanis and the Vijaynagar kings eventually led to the downfall of both the empires. Mosques and temples were ransacked, women were molested, beautiful and artistic sculptures were demolished. Such was the hatred that, the sultans who were busy fighthing amongst themselves united for a common cause, the downfall of the vijaynagar empire. Whenever a proposal for peace was made with the Krishnadevaraya, the proposal was humiliated. The envoys were sent back with insults. This behavior of the king, coupled with the atrocities committed by his predecessors on the Bahamani rulers eventually led to the downfall of the empire.
Speaking about the glory, the richness of Hampi was because of the trading relations the kingdom had with the Europe and Persia. Spices were traded for gold, diamonds and horses. There were some 7000 persian horses in the kingdom. Travellers like Abdur Razzaq and Paes travelled to this kingdom and wrote about its glory. However all this had to come to an end.
Krishnadevaraya, died of smallpox at a young age ( probably mid 30s ). The sultans were waiting in bated breath for his death, and 30 years after his death, they united and masterminded the battle of Talikota. They won the war, ransacked Hampi. It is said that Gol Gumbaz was built with the money ransacked from Hampi. The great empire fell to the hands of the Sultans and Hampi was plundered.
The origin of the empire, the founders and the reason for the birth of the empire in the next and the concluding volume.